Arkansas banks continued to outpace its fellow banks in the Eighth District and peer banks across the country in the second quarter, according to the latest numbers from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis' Burgundy Book.

Following the national trend, Arkansans lowered their mortgage and credit card debts while auto loans continued to rise in the second quarter, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis' Burgundy Book.

The manufacturing sector saw considerable growth in Arkansas in the second quarter, up 1.4 percent from a year ago, while transportation saw a slight increase, 0.1 percent, according to the latest numbers from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis' Burgundy Book.

According to an economic condition report from the Federal Reserve, most economists surveyed expect conditions in Arkansas to remain the same in 2014, while a "sizable minority" expect to see some improvement from 2013.

A November survey of business contacts in 62 Arkansas counties shows "modest optimism" about the strength of the economy in 2014, according to a regular report by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.